By Xinhua
Taiyuan (China) : At least 20 people, trying to illegally procure coal in an officially closed unsafe mine in northern China, have been killed when deadly methane gas exploded in the pit, work safety officials said Monday.
The blast occurred early Sunday in Weijialing coal mine in Fenxi county, local authorities said.
According to Work Safety Administration, the mine, which opened in 2004, was subsequently closed down for failing to meet safety requirements.
Illegal miners took the opportunity of heavy snowfall which snapped access to the area reducing policing to nil and sneaked into the mine.
It was not immediately known how many people were in the mine when the blast occurred. Rescue officials have recovered 20 bodies from the site, the officials said.